Faculty: Nicholas D. More, Bridget Newell, Michael A. Popich

Program Goals

To become effective analytical and critical thinkers, and to communicate such thinking orally and in writing.

To gain familiarity with philosophical or religious history and its central issues.

To think and write in the form and by the method proper to the discipline of Philosophy or Religious Studies, i.e., rational argumentation in support of a significant thesis.

To pursue in depth one field of philosophy, either theoretical or applied.

To produce a substantial piece of original scholarship in Philosophy or Religious Studies.

To become more reflective of the human condition, and the effect of globalization and diversity; to understand the relevance of philosophical thinking to one’s own life and public policies and practices.

Objectives

The Philosophy and Religious Studies Program offers an academic major in philosophy leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as an academic minor. It provides students with the critical and philosophical thinking skills necessary to examine human systems of value, knowledge, and belief, and to make rational analyses of ideas fundamental to living thoughtfully in the world. Philosophy is an excellent choice of study for pre-law students, as preparation for graduate school in philosophy, as a minor or second major for liberal arts students preparing for graduate school, and for anyone who would benefit from a discipline of clear thinking, writing, and problem solving in the pursuit of wisdom.

Religious Studies (available as a minor) is considered open to objective and scholarly investigation. Students learn to read religious literature intelligently and within context, and gain perspective on the religious impulse as it is expressed through the world’s religions. Students majoring in Philosophy who plan to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in the field should plan for graduate school, with the assistance of the Philosophy/Religious Studies faculty, no later than the second semester of their junior year. Students intending to pursue a degree in theology are advised to major in English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, or any broad liberal arts program, or minor in Religious Studies. The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada recommends that students have a background in history, religions of non-western cultures, and a foreign language.

Students majoring or minoring in philosophy with a GPA of 3.5 overall and in philosophy coursework may be invited to become members of Phi Sigma Tau, the international undergraduate Philosophy Honor Society. Westminster College ’s Utah chapter is the oldest in the state.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 GPA in courses required in the philosophy major.

For course prerequisites, please refer to the course description.

Academic Major in Philosophy—Bachelor of Arts Degree

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required for
the Philosophy major.

Academic Major in Philosophy—Bachelor of Science Degree

For a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy, students must fulfill the same requirements as for the Bachelor of Arts degree, except that students are required to take eight credit hours of a laboratory science in lieu of the history requirement.

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required for
the Philosophy major.